TYNGSBORO -- Greater Lowell Technical High School Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Santoro, who has faced months of strained relations with the School Committee, is not requesting an extension of her contract.

School Committee Chairman Victor Olson on Tuesday night read a letter he received from Santoro dated Feb. 8 during a public session before a special meeting held to discuss strategy regarding contract negotiations with Santoro.

Santoro has been an educator and administrator at Greater Lowell Tech for 35 years, beginning her career as a special-education teacher. In June 2010, she was promoted to superintendent, signing a three-year contract.

In her letter, Santoro said she came to her decision with "mixed emotions.

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"For reasons that are obvious to anyone who viewed the (Jan. 10 School Committee meeting), it's clearly time for me to move on," she wrote, adding that she would like to spend her time with professionals who will recognize her 35 years of experience in education. "And treat me with the dignity and respect I have earned after 35 years of tireless effort."

Although the committee could have gone into a executive session at its Jan. 10 meeting to negotiate Santoro's contract, the School Committee voted to stay in public session and give Santoro a 2 percent pay increase, bringing her salary to $171,564.

The move was unprecedented for the committee, and the school district's attorney said he was not aware of another district in his 30-year career to discuss a superintendent's contract in public session.

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Santoro said at the time the process of discussing her compensation in open session was disrespectful.

In her letter to Olson, who read the letter to The Sun but would not provide a copy of it, Santoro also said over the past 13 months she has been on the receiving end of "an effort to undermine my leadership."

She said the reputation of Greater Lowell has suffered.

Without naming any committee member specifically, she said disagreements at the board level have been based on political motivations.

She referenced bullying in her letter.

In October, Santoro said she felt as though committee member Erik Gitschier was bullying her because she is a woman with requests made formally at meetings and informal requests.

Gitschier, of Lowell, has filed more motions than any other committee member.

The school district's attorney and Human Resource Department are conducting an investigation into the matter. No information has been released publicly.

Santoro said she hoped her decision would redirect the committee to be able to work responsibly and improve the reputation of the school.

"I am proud of my accomplishments and the accomplishments of those I have had the honor and privilege to work with," she wrote.

Santoro's departure will make for two vacancies in the school district's leadership.

Assistant Superintendent/Principal Robert Lussier said in January he will be retiring at the end of the school year, after a more than 30-year career.

Santoro had told The Sun in November she was not sure if she would accept a contract extension if the committee offered her one.

Santoro did not return calls for comment Tuesday.

"I was disappointed for the school, but I respect her decision," Olson said of Santoro's letter.

When he was asked to comment on what Santoro said about the behavior of the committee, Olson said, "I think it's obvious if you ask other people what they think 'what is the reputation.'"

Olson said a meeting is scheduled for Feb. 21 to begin the search for a new superintendent.

"My goal, and I'm sure the rest of the committee's goal, is to get somebody in that can do the job. It's not going to be an easy job," said Olson, of Dracut.

The school district is in the process of going through a $64 million renovation and addition to its building approved recently by the school district's communities Lowell, Dracut, Tyngsboro and Dunstable.

The school is also going through a process examining culture and climate in the school after a survey of administrators and teachers in the building found that respondents rated climate in the building well below state average.

The committee's next regularly scheduled meeting is on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

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